Fish-trap.



- No. 7||,379. l P. M. BENSETH.

FISH TRAP. (Appucaon med Mar. 3, 1902.) um nodal.) 2 sheets-sheetl'l.

Patented oct. I4, 1902.`

A TTOHNE YS No. 7u,379.

Patented oet. I4, |902.

P. m. BENSETH.

FISH TRAP.

(No Model.) l

(Application :Bled Mar. 3, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mi Norms warms co, wom-uma.. WASHINGTON, uv cv UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FEDER M. BENSETH, OF FAIRHAVEN, WASHINGTON.

FISH-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 711,379, dated. October 14, 1902. Application iiled March 3, 1902. Serial No. 96,411. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PEDER M. BENSETH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fairhaven, in the county of Whatcom and State of W'ashington, have invented a new and Improved Fish-Trap, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a fish-trap adapted to be floated in the water and to be held by tugs or otherwise against the tidal currents, so as to entrap the fish moving with the current.

The invention is designed especially forsalmon-fishing, but is useful in other connections, as will be apparent.

This specification is an exact description of one example ofmy invention,while theclaims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indi-v cate corresponding parts in all lthe views.

Figure l is a plan view of a trap embodying my invention'. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the end of one of the leads. Fig. Liis a detail view showing the manner of connecting the weights and lioats to the webbing. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, 'a indicates the two parts of a double heart, these parts standing at an obtuse angle to each other and having a single mouth a', below which is located a floor h. This floor extends horizontally forward and is adapted to prevent the lish from diving down under the trap as they approach the mouth of the heart.

c indicates the pots into which the parts of the heart respectively lead by means of tunnels ci?.

d indicates the two leads, which range at approximatelyan angle of ninetydegrees from each other and which extend from opposite sides of the mouth a. of the heart outward in front of the hearts and pots c, and project forwardly and outwardly from the trap to any distance desired.

` 1I indicates tugs or other means for holding the trap stationary against the tidal current or for moving the trap slowly ahead in the absence of a current.

All of the parts a2, b, c and d are constructed of netting, so as to retain the fish, and as the trap is floated in the water the iish on striking the leads CZ will be caused to travel along the same toward the mouth a of the heart. As they reach this point they will enter the mouth of the heart, since the floor b projects out below them and prevents the fish from diving under the'trap.

The leads d constitute 'the main towing connections of the trap, and, as best shown in Fig. 3, their front ends are connected with a bridle cZ, these bridles beingin turn connected with a tow-line d2 passing to a tug. (Not shown.)

indicates a buoy at the upper edge of the end of the lead, and d4 a weight which keeps the lead properly disposed. The leads are provided along their upper edge with oats d5 and along their bottom with weights d6. The leads extend inward toward the body of the trap and are fastened to the heart at opposite sides of the mouth thereof,the points t7 in Figs. l and 2 representing the points at which the leads are attached to the heart of the trap, andthese points also representing the side walls of the mouth of the heart.

d8 indicates buoys in the outer ends of the leads to show their positions. The floor b extends along between the two leads, and thus projects slightly forward of the heart.

h indicates guy-lines which extend from the front edge of the floor to the leads and hold the floor properly disposed. These guylines h', acting with a guy-line h2, (see Fig. 2,) prevent the trap from being split should the tugs be moved too `far apart. This guy b2 extends from the inner ends of the guylines b transversely across the front edge of the oor l), the guy-lines b' extending to the bottom or foot-lines of the' leads.

e indicates the main guy-lines of the trap. These guy-lines are arranged two at each side of the trap, and they extend from the top and bottom edges of each lead to the top andA bottom portions of the trap at each sidethereof. They serve to hold the heart Vin proper position with respect to the other parts of the trap, and they are provided, as best shown in Fig. 5, with sca anchors or drags e' and e2. The drags e2 are connected with the lower f guy-lines.

guy-lines e and the drags e with the upper Of these the drags e2 are provided with metallic hoops orare otherwise weighted, so as to cause them to sink. These sea-anchors trail out behind the trap, as Figs. l and 2 show, and they exert a tension on the guylines at all times, thus keeping the parts of the trap taut and in proper position.

f indicates gu y-lines passing from the main guy-lines e to the heads of the hearts, serving to hold these parts of the hearts in proper position. 4The guy-lines f are four at each side of the trap, two connected with the top guy e and with the top of the heart and two connected with the bottom guy e and with the bottom of the heart.

The pots c are held in place by fastening them to the leads cl, this being effected by guy-lines d, which are connected with the top and bottom of the leads and with the top and bottom of the pots and are of sufficient number to hold the pots properly in place, as the drawings show.

g indicates guy-lines for holding the tunnels a2 in position. These guy-lines are two in number and extend from the tunnels to the heads of the respective pots, one guy-line being connected to the top of the tunnel and the other to the bottom and the bottom line running through a block at the bottom of the pot upward to the top thereof to permit convenient manipulation.

g indicates guy-lines running from the heads of the heart to the lead.

g2 indicates a buoy arranged one at the upper side of each pot to sustain them and also to show the position of the parts of the pot When it is submerged or partly submerged.

h indicates suitable guy-lines in the body of the heart to strengthen it and hold it rigid, and h indicates a bridle attached to the inner extremities of the leads d, to which bridle a boat or scow may be tied and towed along with the trap.

Various other guy-lines and strengthening devices may be employed as may be found necessary without departing from the principle of my invention.

The parts a and cof the trap are constructed of suitable netting and are provided at their bottoms with Weights (indicated at 112 in Fig. 4) and at their tops with floats or corks, (indicated at 71'.) This causes the trap to iioat properly in water, with its upper edge just level with .the surface and with its lower part hanging down perpendicularly from the top of the trap.

lf desired, a guy-line may be run between the two tugs to keep them properly distanced, and this guy-line buoyed with ioats to keep it from sinking.

Various changes in the form and details of my invention may be resorted to at will without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I consider myself entitled to al1 forms of the invention as may lie within the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentj 1. In a iioating fish-trap, an inclosure comprising two parts standing at an angle one to the other and having a mouth in the angle of the parts, leads extending from the parts of the inclosure at an angle to each other and adapted to be connected with means for holding the trap in position, a iioor-like section extending from the lower part of the mouth of the inclosure, and connections between the floor-like section and leads for supporting the same in position, as set forth.

2. In a floating ish-trap, an inclosure cornprising two parts standing at an obtuse angle to each other and having a mouth in the angle of said parts, leads extending from .the parts of the` inclosure and adapted to be connected with means for holding the trap in position, a licor-like section extending from the lower part of the mouth of the inclosure, and guy-lines connecting the ioor like section with the leads, as set forth.

3. In a floating fish-trap, an inclosure comprising two parts standing at an obtuse angle to each other and having a mouth in the angle of said parts, leads extending from opposite sides of the mouth of the inclosure and adapted to be connected with means for holding the trap in position, a Hoor-like section projecting from the lower part of the mouth of the inclosure and extending between the leads, and guy-lines extending from the front edge of the Hoor-like section to the leads, as set forth.

4. In a floating fish-trap, an angular inclosure, leads attached to said inclosure and projectin g out therefrom toward opposite sides, the mouth of the inclosure being in the angle thereof and directly adjacent to the inner ends of the leads and the leads being adapted to be connected with means for holding the trap in the proper position, and a floor-like section of netting projecting out horizontally from the lower part of the mouth of the inclosure and extending between and connected with the leads, for the purpose specified.

5. A iioating fish-trap, comprising an angu- IOS IIO

lar inclosure, leads attached to said inclosure leads and guy-lines extending from the leads to the rear parts of the inclosure and provided with drags.

6. A floating fish-trap, comprising a heart with an opening at its front portion, the heart having two parts projecting from opposite sides thereof, a pot in communication with the end of each part of the heart, a lead connected with each part of the heart at opposite sides of the opening thereof, the leads extending forwardly and outwardly from the trap, j

and connections between the pots and the leads.

7. A floating fish-trap, comprising a heart with an opening at its front portion, the heart having two parts projecting from opposite sides thereof, a pot in communication with the end of each part of the heart, a lead connected with each part of the heart at opposite sides of the opening thereof, the leads extending forwardly and outwardly from the trap, connections between the pots and the leads, and guy-lines extending between the leads and the rear part of the heart.

8. A fioating {ish-trap, comprisingr a heart with an opening at its front portion, the heart having two parts projecting from opposite sides thereof, a pot in communication with the end of each part of the heart, a lead connected with each part of the heart at opposite sides of the openingthereof, the leads extending forwardly and outwardly from the trap, connections between the pots and the leads, a floor-like section of netting projecting forwardly from the bottoni of the mouth of the heart, and means for holding each section of the netting in place, such means extending to the lead.

9. A floating fish-trap, comprising a twopart heart with a mouth at its front, a pot communicating with the head of each part of the heart, two leads connected with the front part of the heart respectively at the sides of the mouth thereof and projecting forwardly and outwardly therefrom in front of the pots, connections between the leads and the pots to hold the pots in proper position, main guylines extending from the leads to the rear part of the heart, and auxiliary guy-lines extending from the heads of the heart to the main guy-lines.

l0. A floating` fish-trap, comprising a twopart heart with a-rnouth at its front, a pot communicating with the head of each part of the heart, two leads connected with the front part of the heart respectively at the sides of the mouth thereof and projecting forwardly and outwardly therefrom in front of the pots, connections between the leads and the pots to hold the pots in proper position, main guylines extending from the leads to the rear part of the heart, auxiliary guy-lines extending from the heads of the heart to the mainl guylines, a floor-like section of netting projecting forwardly from the mouth of the heart to the bottom thereof, and guy-lines for holding said section of floor-like netting in place, the guylines extending to the leads.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PEDER M. BENSETH.

Witnesses:

T. F. BEvANs, EDWIN R. SHERMAN. 

